Who diagnoses autism

Early recognition of autism symptoms is of great importance because it enables a timely detailed assessment or referral of the child, when necessary, for additional diagnostics in institutions of secondary and tertiary level of health care. 

The diagnosis of autism is made after a detailed observation and examination of the child by a multidisciplinary team that usually includes a pediatrician, child psychiatrist, psychologist, special educator-speech therapist. 

There is no autism test that can be performed as a imaging method or by taking biochemical analyzes. Instead, the diagnosis of autism is based on observing how the child plays and communicates with other people and children, based on conversations with parents about the child's development and functioning, as well as by using specific autism assessment tools for which professionals need to be trained (CARS, ADI- R, ADOS). 

Healthcare professionals and associates will assess in detail the child's communication skills, speech and language development, development of cognitive skills, social skills, play skills, as well as the child's motor development. 

For children who receive confirmation of a diagnosis of autism, parents receive a clear description of how serious the symptoms are, as well as how much and what kind of support is necessary for the child in the future. 

It is necessary to include the child in the early intervention program, which as a measure of developmental stimulation will be focused on the areas where deviations are manifested. It is important to include the child in such programs from the moment you notice that there are deviations in the child's development, until the final diagnosis, and once diagnoses is made, continue with recommended interventions. Interventions should include individual work with the child, training of parents to stimulate the child's development at home, counseling parents, support in including the child in preschool setting. 

There are various barriers that need to be overcome to set the early diagnosis, such as: non-acceptance of the parents that there is a problem with their child, late referral by the chosen doctor/pediatrician, insufficiently trained staff, lack of staff to conduct early interventions. 

Research shows that it is possible to make an early diagnosis, as early as at 18 months, and then it is necessary to start with early interventions that have been proven to give the best results in improving the child's various abilities in all areas of development.